Maybe not the camel’s back but mine. This morning was dull and overcast. Eventually the sun shone and it was a grand morning. I carried Bertha for a mile or two round a great nature reserve. The ducks were too numerous to count. They were also too far away for any sensible shots so I’m sitting here typing this with a bad back and aching shoulders. I wish I'd left Bertha at home. These unsuccessful trips are never wasted in the long run, the more I keep trying the better things will get eventually!
Lapwing at Summer Lees. There was a chilly wind and I was thankful for their sheds. Sheds for bird watchers are called Hides so Trevor and Keith kindly informed me.
Male Bullfinch….not a duck but a beauty all the same.
Here are a small selection of the ducks. Gadwall and Tufted for the most part. There is probably the odd Widgeon in the mix as well. A pity they were so far away.
Keith kindly drove the dogs and I back to Milton Keynes. I bunged the dogs in the van and we went for lunch at The Grand Union.
The Grand Union. Canal and Pub both are the Grand Union.
Keith in the inside with his beer on the outside. He had earned it. A busy morning and he did all the driving, half the bird ID’ing, Trevor did the other half. I am getting better if it has feathers it’s a bird if it doesn’t it’s something else.……We also have birds without feathers in the UK…..I’m doing that sort of birding tomorrow. It involves having a shower and buying flowers and posh food and drinking moderately. I know it sounds boring but it is fun every now and again.
It’s a good pub, reasonably priced. They serve draft beer and posh pub food. The place is dog friendly but I didn’t expect it to be and in any case Alf has a poorly tummy.
JoLynne will be pleased to hear that we managed to finish our meal without getting ejected for blaspheming. We were lucky…..we swore quietly and they didn’t hear us!
Tomorrow I’m heading back north to Chatsworth. I’ve had a wonderful couple of days all due to the kindness of Keith and Trevor. Thank you both.
I’m going for a siesta now…….I’m tired.
Hi Adrian..We used to have a shed at home when I was a kid, but it was where everything ended up so you could even get through it LOL!! ; )
ReplyDeleteAw that's a cracking photo of the Bull finch, clear !!: )
I love the face of that "Old Bugger" he makes me smile!!! : )..full of birding knowledge he is,,and wine and beer too ; )
Love those posh ladies trying to get out of the way of the picture lol!!
Can't wait until tomorrows post : )...hey what happen to Trevor's picture???!!
Glad you all had a great time!!
Grace
Grace, how could you! Keith was half empty today and the posh ladies were old tramps.
DeleteI'm sorry about Trevor...I half forgot....He polishes up better than Keith and I do.
Was brilliant Grace, like the Three Musketeers on an outing. Well the three musketeers and It 'Ain't Half Hot Mum'. A blend of the two.
Adrian, it was a pleasure to meet you and your two minders and to finally add a voice to the face of that witty and irreverent blog of yours!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed our walks over the last couple of days, I hope the little piece of 'our patch' that we've managed to show you was not too boring? Thanks for your hospitality and for treating us to lunch today, very much appreciated. (it must just be a myth that people from up t'north are tigh...careful with their brass...!)
Sorry it wasn't a bit dryer and a lot less muddy, perhaps next time you visit we'll have a bit more sunshine!
Have a safe journey back, and a fruitful next couple of days!!...[;o)
I hope Alf is feeling better soon.
Trevor I'm not a proper birder but would like to be.
DeleteWe in the north revel in muck and water. We wears wellies. We only wears boots when you switch to sandals.
We are careful....You are more than welcome to a wee bit of snap and a pint.....you took me places.....and knew where the pub was!
It's not looking good.....she 'as forsworn the demon drink..got to get down to nine stone....Horses come first.
Hi Grace, Give him a chance...he's only just got the camera and you wouldn't want it broken so soon, would you?...[;o)
ReplyDeleteI have already told her you put us to shame....polished and sofisticated are you. You rarely use bad wurds. I trust you aren't a closet Mormon.
DeleteIt was great to meet up again Adrian; had a good couple of days in great company.
ReplyDeleteWho's that ol' tramp at the bar?
Thanks for the dinner today, and I hope your back feels better soon. Bertha sure is a big un to carry around.
Cracking shot of that Bullfinch. Such a beautiful bird. A shame most of the others were so far away though.
Hope Alf is feeling better. He did look a bit sorry for himself today. Poor lad.
Have a safe journey back, and enjoy the special 'birding' trip too.
Cheers Keith,What is the bird with a black bib and a white collar? it is a bird cos it has feathers.
DeleteThe tramp at the bar is the mucky old biddy behind you. Never can tell where old biddies have been.
It's a bugger is Bertha. She got the swans in flight perfect and in bad light....daft girl tracked the one behind the one in front one. The moral is don't use servo focus without locking on to the target. Just looked at the destructions tells me to do that. that's what those front buttons and ring is for, silly me! There are as many buttons on Bertha as the camera has.
Looks like fat free venison a baked potato and salad for tea tomorrow. She has to hit nine stone wet through....she can come on top....I should think of a career as personal trainer.
Great to see you, excellent value as always. Many thanks.
Great pictures, and nice to see a picture of Keith too. The male bullfinch is a stunner. Sorry to hear Alf is feeling poorly, hope he perks up soon.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Gillian , I've had a wonderful time.
DeleteAlf is a rescue dog, like me not in the best of health. He's away to the vet in the morning. I love him.
To Trevor...come on be a sport, I think you all should have had a picture together "Larry, Curly,and Moe" lol ; ) !! Are you a closet Mormon???
ReplyDeleteGrace
Grace, I think he may be he drinks orange juice and only swears a bit, doesn't have bags under his eyes or a big fatty vessel infused nose puts Keith and I to shame..... He's a great bloke though.
DeleteOn my comments you can click reply and form a thread. Save me a load of work. I can let you get on with chatting up handsome men.
Cheers Adrian.
ReplyDeleteThe bird with the bib was a Reed Bunting.
Ta Keith. Never seen one before. Are they the ones that hold two reeds one in either foot? The one I have is sitting on a branch 'spect they do that from choice.
DeleteI suspect they do at times. Wrens do it also. Pretty nimble these birds.
DeleteA bird I've only seen on a board at Leighton Moss. Up there they are only seen in summer. They are maybe talking about a different bird. I'll check with Bob.
DeleteAdrian...I'm thinking the Three Stooges ; ) more describes it!!
ReplyDeleteReading your comments and replies is more interesting them some posts I read!! How you make a quilt and what meal you prepared for supper are some of the more boring blogs I follow!! : )
Grace
Grace... The Three Stooges' That is insulting @Last of The Summer Wine' would be tolerable. They were great.
DeletePS ..wanted to say so sorry Alf is not feeling well
ReplyDeleteadorable little tike he is !!
Grace, Alf will be fine. I'll take him to the vet tomorrow. Alf is special needs. Language changes... Special now means Thick. Gay doesn't necessarily mean happy. It means shirt lifter. All in all very confusing for a Stooge.
ReplyDeleteThe pub sounds alright, at last, one of those that sells draft beer, loverly. Nice picture of Keith, and a pint.
ReplyDeleteThe pub sounds alright, at last, one of those that sells draft beer, loverly. Nice picture of Keith, and a pint.
ReplyDeleteA really good day Bob. Keith does look Middling I look much better.
DeleteGreat shot of that Bullfinch and Keith inside the bar!
ReplyDeleteHit rate was low today. Keith looks good. he may have looked better with a touch of fill flash. I did leave the flash at home.
DeleteLove the Bullfinch shot Adrian...
ReplyDeleteThis post brought back memories of a backpacking trip I did a few years back along the Grand Union canal from Central London to Gas House Basin in Birmingham. It was a great weeks walk with lots of wildlife seen along the way...
-Trevor
Trevor, I struggled to walk a couple of miles. It is a good area.
DeleteYou sound as if you all had a good 2 days....well done all.
ReplyDeletepeter
Peter, I had a grand time.
DeleteStunning Bullfinch image Adrian. Summer Leys is one of my haunts and I enjoyed reading your experience of the place and had began to wonder wether it was just me but was glad/sad to hear someone else comment on the distance of the wildfowl, sadly one local used to scatter wildfowl bird seed/feed at great expense to himself around the reserve bringing wildfowl closer (he also put that odd looking tree next to screen hide to encourage green woodpeckers and Kingfisher posts up too)but got told off by the local wildlife trust, so sadly he stopped and you can see the results...sad. Though I shall never look at the hides again in the same way, sheds, very true lol
ReplyDeleteDouglas, It is the nature of things with water fowl. As one circumnavigates a lake the birds swim to the shore furthest away.
DeleteI was grateful for the sheds. It was raining when we arrived.
You'll just have to find a smaller pond so that the birds can't get so far away. Or maybe you were blaspheming loudly out in the hides and the birds heard you and kept away. You can't swear at birds you know!
ReplyDeleteGreat that you had a good time.
We found a smaller pond the day before. It makes the world of difference.
DeleteThe pub certainly looks like a nice place to spend an afternoon. Sometimes its best to put a day of birding on the back-burner and enjoy a draft and good company.
ReplyDeleteDaniel....The pub is always a good fall back option.
ReplyDeleteYou must be doing something right in spite of your complaints, Adrian ;) Great pictures, both outdoors and indoors.
ReplyDeleteMonica, I still struggle to remember where all the buttons are. Things are slowly improving.
DeleteVery warm sharp shots Adrian..I love the nice detail in the woodwork of the bar...nice to meet up with friends, how lovely for you! The bullfinch is stunning as well..have a nice week! Linda :-)
ReplyDeleteLinda, Canon have a really good white balance. Interiors can be a nightmare.
DeleteYou have a good weekend too.
Rather envious of your bullfinch pic. I've never managed one that close and clear. Now that's more like a proper pub. Not quite there yet but more like one. At least it has draft beer. Real ale? Not that I drink much beer these days: living in the Outer Hebrides and NZ are not conducive to drinking proper beer.
ReplyDeleteGraham. The files are massive on full frame. I can crop in 30% with no real downside....for the web anyway. I'm still having to compress about two thirds away.
DeleteThe pub is a cut above my preferred dive.
Terrific pic of the bullfinch! What a beautiful bird. Glad you enjoyed your trio time ~ bet there were a few laughs along the way. Always great to spend time with others who have similar interests :)
ReplyDeleteWe haven't the energy to laugh Glo. Hard work is walking with a load of gear. I'll get Keith to post his portrait of me.
DeleteLooks as though you had an enjoyable time in 'good' company.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot of the Bullfinch.
A grand time John.
ReplyDelete